Medina-García Miguel, Baeza-Morales Andrés, Martínez-Peinado Pascual, Pascual-García Sandra, Pujalte-Satorre Carolina, Martínez-Espinosa Rosa María, Sempere-Ortells José Miguel
Immunology, Cellular and Developmental Biology Group, Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, Ap. 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Alicante, Ap. 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2025 Sep 12;14(9):1111. doi: 10.3390/antiox14091111.
Carotenoids are lipophilic pigments naturally occurring in plants and, to a lesser extent, in certain non-photosynthetic organisms. They play a critical role in human health due to their antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Key carotenoids such as β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are capable of neutralizing reactive oxygen species, thereby mitigating oxidative stress-a major contributor to the onset and progression of chronic diseases. These compounds also modulate immune responses by influencing lymphocyte proliferation, enhancing natural killer cell activity, and regulating the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Such immunomodulatory effects are associated with a reduced risk of infectious diseases and have shown potential protective roles against inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, and certain types of cancer. Moreover, diets rich in carotenoids are linked to improved immune status, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Despite strong epidemiological evidence, clinical trials involving carotenoid supplementation have produced mixed results, indicating that their effectiveness may depend on the broader dietary context and interactions with other nutrients. In summary, carotenoids are important dietary compounds that contribute to immune regulation and the prevention of various diseases, although further clinical research is needed to determine optimal intake levels and assess their full therapeutic potential.
类胡萝卜素是天然存在于植物中的亲脂性色素，在某些非光合生物中含量较少。由于其抗氧化和免疫调节特性，它们在人类健康中起着关键作用。关键类胡萝卜素如β-胡萝卜素、番茄红素、叶黄素和玉米黄质能够中和活性氧，从而减轻氧化应激——氧化应激是慢性疾病发生和发展的主要因素。这些化合物还通过影响淋巴细胞增殖、增强自然杀伤细胞活性以及调节促炎和抗炎细胞因子的产生来调节免疫反应。这种免疫调节作用与感染性疾病风险降低相关，并已显示出对炎症性疾病、心血管和神经退行性疾病以及某些类型癌症的潜在保护作用。此外，富含类胡萝卜素的饮食与改善免疫状态有关，特别是在老年人和免疫功能低下个体等弱势群体中。尽管有强有力的流行病学证据，但涉及补充类胡萝卜素的临床试验结果不一，表明其有效性可能取决于更广泛的饮食背景以及与其他营养素的相互作用。总之，类胡萝卜素是重要的膳食化合物，有助于免疫调节和预防各种疾病，尽管需要进一步的临床研究来确定最佳摄入量并评估其全部治疗潜力。
